Life of the Duchess of Newcastle 173 



lazy nature, and not of an active disposition, as some are that 

 love to journey from town to town, from place to place, from 

 house to house, delighting in variety of company, making still 

 one where the greatest number is — likewise in playing at cards, 

 or any other games, in which I neither have practised, nor have 

 I any skill therein : — as for dancing, although it be a graceful 

 art, and becometh unmarried persons well, yet for those that 

 are married, it is too light an action, disagreeing with the 

 gravity thereof — and for revelling, I am of too dull a nature 

 to make one in a merry society — as for feasting, it would 

 neither agree with my humour or constitution, for my diet 

 is for the most part sparing, as a little boiled chicken, or the 

 like, my drink most commonly water ; for though I have an 

 indifferent good appetite, yet I do often fast, out of an opinion 

 that x if I should eat much, and exercise little, which I do, only 

 walking a slow pace in my chamber, whilst my thoughts run 

 apace in my brain, so that the motions of my mind hinders 

 the active exercises of my body ; for should I dance or run, 

 or walk apace, I should dance my thoughts out of measure, run 

 my fancies out of breath, and tread out the feet of my numbers. 

 But because I would not bury myself quite from the sight of the 

 world, I go sometimes abroad, seldom to visit, but only in my 

 coach about the town, or about some of the streets, which we 

 call here a tour, where all the chief of the town go to see and 

 to be seen, likewise all strangers of what quality soever, as all 

 great princes or queens that make any short stay. For this 

 town being a passage or thoroughfare to most parts, causeth 

 many times persons of great quality to be here, though not as 

 inhabitants, yet to lodge for some short time ; and all such, 

 as I said, take a delight, or at least go to see the customs 

 thereof, which most cities of note in Europe, for all I can hear, 

 hath such like recreations for the effeminate sex, although 

 for my part I had rather sit at home and write, or walk, as I 

 said, in my chamber and contemplate ; but I hold necessary 

 sometimes to appear abroad, besides I do find, that several 

 objects do bring new materials for my thoughts and fancies to 

 build upon. Yet I must say this in the behalf of my thoughts, 

 that I never found them idle ; for if the senses bring no work in, 

 they will work of themselves, like silk-worms that spins out 

 of their own bowels. Neither can I say I think the time 



1 Supply * I should injure myself ', or some phrase to that effect. 



